Western Sahara: Morocco to Launch A Diplomatic Offensive

Rabat – With the presentation of the UN's annual report on Western Sahara around the corner, Morocco, emboldened by the increasing public support for its Sahara position, is choosing to adopt the 'offensive', therefore deterring any hostilities towards its position.

'Morocco is no longer trifling with the Western Sahara question,' relevant Moroccan authorities are reported to have said, referring to the increasing approval of the Kingdom's position by many in the international community.

Morocco's proposal, autonomy under the auspices of Morocco's sovereignty, has been saluted by many countries, which have described it as 'serious, credible, and feasible.'

Recently meeting in Lisbon with the UN personal envoy for Western Sahara Horst Kohler, Moroccan delegation, which was led by foreign affairs minister Nasser Bourita, reiterated the Kingdom's position, reaffirming that it would not even consider any other offer.

In its March 8 edition, Akhbar Al Yaoum reported that Morocco is now ready to launch a 'political offensive' against those in the international community who are still advocating for an unfeasible and utopian solution for Western Sahara. Of the meeting in Lisbon, Al Yaoum wrote: 'No sooner has the meeting in Lisbon ended than a diplomatic war is already on the horizons, announcing new battles by April.'

The UN Secretary General is due to submit his annual report on the Western Sahara to the Security Council in early April. Based on the report, the 15-member body will decide whether to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in the region, known as MINURSO.

'After Morocco's formal victory by preventing the UN Secretary General's personal envoy from imposing his own agenda, Morocco is now ready to take the lead by launching a new offensive,' Al Yaoum further reported.

Hassan Boukili, who is in charge of Moroccan affairs in Geneva, told the press that Algeria is now the only country opposing the idea of a thorough census of 'sequestered Sahrawi.' The Moroccan diplomat also said that at the ongoing HCR 71st session on refugees, Algerian delegation maneuvered to hide 'the real number of Sahrawi refugees.'

'Algeria is afraid that the world finally discovers the number of Algerian settled in camps such Tindouf,' the diplomat said, stressing that although of foreign nationalities, some Polisario fighters are still benefiting from humanitarian aids and other Tindouf-related international actions.